Typographic casting mechanism



buRTlss April 13, 1937. G. W.

TYPOGRAPHIC CTASTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 28', 1936 April 13, 1937. I w URT|$$ I 2,076,882

TYPOGRAPHIC CASTI NG MECHAN I SM Filed July 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 13, 1937.

G. w. CURTISS TYPOGRAPHIC CASTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Shee t 5 Filed July 28, 1956 //V 1 5 N 70/? I Patented Apr. 13, 1937 p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,076,882 TYPOGRAPHIC CASTING MECHANISM Gordon W. Curtis's, Atlanta, Ga.

Application July 28, 1936, Serial No. 93,111

Claims.

The present invention relates to typographic machines, particularly to machines for casting type metal into types or other elements of typographic forms under the control of signals in the 5 form of perforations in "a paper record strip, which latter is produced by a suitablekeyboard machine. A typographic casting machine of this kind is manufactured by Lanston Monotype Ma-.

chine Company and is, and has been for many years, well known by those skilled in the art. A representation of such machine as to its basic construction and operation will be found. in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 625,998 issued May 30, 1899 to J. S. Bancroft. Improvements g -thereto are shown in many subsequent Letters Patent and the machine is so well known in its commercial form that no detailed description herein is necessary.

The object of this invention is generally to in-. C-crease the production of a casting machine of the class referred to and to enable such machine .under the control of a suitable perforated record strip to cast wider characters including spaces, leaders and the like than is possible in the nor- 5ma1ly constructed machine. A further object is to provide an adjustable stop latch mechanism operable through mechanism controlled by certain parts of the normal machine, whereby the.

space transfer wedge is stopped in. its forward or 0 mold blade positioning movement at a point which will allow the mold blade to open abnormally and thus result in the casting of an abnormally wide character. more particularly explained and other objects will be pointed out or will otherwise appear, in connection with the following description of the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a part of a typographic machine embodying the present invention and showing the mold and mold blade of such machine, the normal, justification and transfer wedges, the pin tongs, the matrix tongs, matrix jaw stop rack and other allied parts.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of certain of the parts of Fig. 1, some being broken away, and particularly illustrating the stop latch mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a portion of said stop l latch mechanism.

Fig.4 is an' end elevation of the same, parts being in section on approximately line 4-4 of Fig. 5-. l

Fig. 5- is a side elevation of'the same, certain parts being broken way-V f These objects will be- Fig. 6 is a section on approximately the line 6-6 ofFig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective of the latch and the operating slide therefor in disassociated relation.

The typographic casting machine shown is of a kind which operates in accordance with signals in the form of perforations in a prepared paper strip, such perforations having been made in the record'strip by the operation of a proper keyboard machine which is able to make perforation signals capable of beinginterpreted by the casting machine. A keyboard which is equipped to produce a compound signal including a space transfer signal in addition to the character signal representing the character which is to be cast abnormally wide, is suitable for producing a record strip for use with the present casting machine, or the-properly perforated strip may be produced in any other suitable manner. A keyboard for producing proper signals and also for measuring the abnormal widths to be cast forms the subject matter of my pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 82,552, filed May 29,

The castin machine shown is of the general construction set forth in Letters Patent 625,998 previously mentioned, and as already stated is so well known to those skilled in the art, both as to construction and as to operation that a detailed description is unnecessary. It should be sufficient to point out certain elements of construction shown in the drawings, for purposes of identification, as for example, the mold l, the mold blade 2, the mold blade dimensioning devices including the normal wedge 3, the space transfer wedge 4, the type transfer wedge 5, the justification wedges 6 and "l, the type transfer wedge operating rod 8 and slidable on the upper surface thereof, the space transfer wedge operating rod 9, the pin jaw tongs III, the pin jaws II, the matrix jaw tongs 12, the matrix jaws l3, the matrix jaw stop rack 14, the micrometer wedge The construction, arrangement and functioning of the above associated parts are known to those skilled in the art. The record strip perforations by pneumatic devices operate pins (not shown) for positioning the pin jaws ID of the casting machine and these locate the stop racks I4 which in turn locate the matrix jaws and thus determine the position of the matrix case (not shown) in two directions at right angles to each other. mold inproper position, the mold blade being The selected matrix is held upon the opened to accurate dimension for the set size or width of the printing form element to be cast and the pump mechanism (not shown) operates to cast the character, all these operations being in nicely timed relation to each other. The normal wedge 3 is positioned in accordance with the position of the matrix case by the operation of the matrix jaws, the type transfer wedge is drawn in by its rod 8 against the micrometer wedge l5 and thus the opening of the mold blade is set with accuracy by these wedges. When a space signal is presented, either alone or in addition to a character signal, the opening of the mold blade is set by the normal wedge 3, the justification wedges 6 and 1 previously set by signal, and the space transfer wedge 4 drawn into position against the micrometer wedge l5 by its rod 9. The selection of the space transfer wedge is accomplished by the operation of an eye in a shifter (not shown) which engages the notch it in the space transfer wedge operating rod 9 and holds the latter to allow operation of the type transfer wedge operating rod 8 except when a space signal is presented, in which case the shifter eye engages the notch IS in the type transfer wedge operating rod 8 and permits the operation of the space transfer wedge operating rod 9. All of the above mentioned constructions and operations are inherent in the well-known casting machine and need not therefore be further described.

When the stop rack M which slides in a direction substantially parallel with the movement of the transfer wedges, reaches the limit of its movement to the right, as illustrated in Fig. 2; that is, the limit determined by the pin corresponding to the last row in the matrix case, usually the 15th row (since there are usually 225 matrices in the case made up of 15 rows n two directions at right angles to each other), it strikes a movable abutment I'I whichl have proaided. This abutment is provided with a rod l8 which with the abutment is slidable in the direction of movement of. the rack M. The outer end of the rod is guided in a suitable bracket I9 secured by screws 20 to a block 2| secured to a fixed part of the machine, and between the outer end of the bracket l9 and the abutment l1 and 1 rroundin the rod I8 is a spring 22 tending to f rce the ibutment to the left (Fig. 2) until stopped by the shoulders I1 thereon. On the underside of the abutment I1 and secured by screws 23 is a finger 24 in the form of a metal bar bent downwardly, then to one side and then forwardly ending in a fork 25 for engagement with a rod 26 to be described shortly. It will be seen that the movement of the rack against the abutment causes the movement of the finger 24 and through the latter of the rod 26. Upon the retraction of the rack from its extreme, or 15th row position, the abutment and associated parts will be returned to normal position by the spring 22 ready to be struck and moved by the rack I4 when it again is operated to its 15th row position.

The block 2| also carries a bracket 21 which is secured to the block by screws 28 and extends parallel to the bracket I9. The outer end of the bracket 21 is likewise turned down to accommodate a screw 29 which pierces said end and is held from longitudinal movement by collars 36. The outer end of the screw is provided with a knurled head 3| into the milled periphery of which extends a spring detent 32 secured to the bracket 21. It is obvious that by turning the milled head by hand the screw '29 may be delicately adjusted and held in place by the detent. The inner end of the screw 29 after being journalled in a guiding lug 33 fastened to the underside of the bracket 27, passes into a slidable block 34 in which the screw is threaded. This block 34 slides in ways formed by grooving the upper surface of the block 2!, the top of the block 34 being covered by the bracket 21. The block 34 extends beyond and to the rear of the block 2| and is there secured to the stop latch bracket 35 by the screw 35.

The stop latch bracket 35 carries a spring pressed latch or interponent 36 mounted to slide vertically on the bracket and projecting therebelow in position to engage with a stop lug 31 formed on the top of the space transfer wedge operating rod 9, the extent of the projection of the latch being determined by a shoulder 36 near its upper end which shoulder contacts the bracket, being advanced thereagainst by a light spring 38 between its upper end and a suitable fixed lug on the bracket cover 39 secured to the face of the bracket by suitable screws.

A latch mechanism normally holds the interponent 36 in uppermost position. This mechanism embodies a horizontally movable bolt 40 mounted to slide on ways in the bracket 35 but held rearwardly by the pressure of a spring 4|. The bolt is adapted to be advanced against the action of its spring by the yoke 25 of the arm 24 acting against the bent part of the rod 26, previously referred to, such rod being secured at its rearward end to the side extension 42 of the bolt 40. In the normal or non-projecting position of the interponent 36, its lateral lug 43 rests upon the seat 44 of the bolt 40. When, however, the rod 26 is moved forwardly and with it the bolt 40, the interponent 36 slips to the lower seat 45 and its lower end is thus projected into the path of motion of the lug 31 on the rod 9. The movement of the rod 26 is, of course, caused by the rack l4 engaging with the buffer or abutment I! which moves the arm 24 and thus the rod 26. The buffer I! may return immediately on release by the rack because of its spring 22, but the interponent will not be restored to uppermost position until the retractive movement of the space transfer wedge and its operating rod takes place; upon such motion of the rod, its cam surface 46 comes into contact with the interponent and pushes it upwardly, thus allowing the bolt 40 to move rearwardly under action of its spring 4|, and hold the interponent against the seat 44 in normal, upper position. It is, of course, understood that the timing of the parts referred to and of the operating parts of the machine in general is such as to permit of the operation as described.

From the foregoing description it is clear that the matrix positioning mechanism including the stop rack l4 controls the special stop 36 by the striking of the rack against the abutment or buffer I! as the result of the movement of the rack to its extreme or 15th row position, the movement of the abutment being communicated through the arm 24 to the rod 26 and thus to the bolt 40 which,as will be readily understood, permits the stop 36 to drop to the seat 45, in which position the lower end of the stop will be in line with and above the space transfer rod 9, but in position between the lug 31 thereon and the cam surface 46 thereon. When the rod 9 is moved forwardly in normal fashion to set the space transfer wedge of the mold blade dimensioning mechanism, the lug 3'! will strike the stop 36 and thus prevent further outward movement of the rod 9 and its transfer wedge. This stopping of the wedge short of its normal movement against the wedge 15. results in permitting a wider opening of the mold blade than normal and 1 the casting of a wider character setwise than 'the stop 36 has no influence upon that wedge.

The space signalalone causes the selection of the 3 space transfer wedge and results in the normal operation of the machine, but a combination signal causes the operation of the stop 36. Upon the retraction movement of the rod 9, the camv surface 46 moves the stop 36 upwardly against its spring 38 and the bolt 40 immediately moves under the influence of its spring 4] to retain the stop in its upper position on the seat 44 in which position it is not in the path of travel of the lug 31 on the rod 9 and therefore has no influence on the setting of the type transfer wedge. In order to position the stop 36 with micrometric accuracy, the knurled head 3| and screw 29 are provided in association with the slide 34 to which the stop 36 is secured, it being obvious that the turning of the knurled head has the result of moving the stop 36 so that the lug 31 will strike it at the proper positionto set the wedge i micrometrically for the desired mold opening. I

It is only necessary when it is desired to cast wider than normal characters, to place matrices of suificient width in the matrix case in the 15th row thereof, such matrices being the dash, quad and leader matrices, for example, and then provide for the accompaniment of the space signal with the usual signals for these selected characters. It is well known that character casting normally employs the normal wedge and the type transfer wedge for dimensioning the mold and that justification space casting employs the normal wedge, the space transfer wedge and the two justification wedges. Casting abnormally Wide characters, according to my invention, employs the last mentioned group of wedges, the two justification wedges being controlled in their setting by previous justification signals, the normal wedge position being controlled as usual by the matrix case position and the space transfer wedge being controlled by the automatic operation of the stop 36.

The casting of Wider leaders, spaces, dashes and the like has the important result, particularly in tabular composition, of producing greatly increased amounts of composition in the form of type for a given number of revolutions of the casting machine. In other words, a greatly increased saving of time and of cost is accomplished, the caster being able to produce more product in a given time. This invention has no deleterious effect on the regular operation of the standard machine, and makes possible the casting of 8 point types, for example, with setwise dimensions of 12 or 16 points, the accuracy of these dimensions being controlled by the knurled head 3| and screw 29. Furthermore, characters in one row of the matrix case may be cast to type 8, 12 or 16 points wide, as will be readily understood.

be limited to the exact disclosure set forth, the scope of my invention being pended claims.

I claim:

'1. A type casting and composing machine comprising matrix case positioning. mechanism including a stop rack, mold dimensioning mechanism including a. wedge and operating means therefor, a movable stop for the latter, means operated by thestop rack when moved to an extreme position, for moving said stop in position to arrest the movement of said wedge at a point to dimension said mold to cast a wider character than if said stop had not been operated, and means to restore said stop to its non-operative position upon the retractive movement of said wedge.

2. A type casting and composing machine .comprising mold dimensioning mechanism including a normal wedge, justification wedge means, a space transfer wedge and a stop for limiting the advance of the latter to mold dimensioning position and in combination therewith an automati-. cally operated special stop for limitingthe advance of the space transfer Wedge short of the limit established by the first mentioned stop.

3. A type casting and composing machine comprising a stop rack, a normal wedge, justification wedges, a space transfer wedge and means for operating said wedges and rack, in combination with a movable stop for the space transfer wedge controlled by said rack, a lug on said operating means for contacting with said stop when operated, the latter being positioned to cause the transfer wedge to come to rest short of its normal stroke and means on said operating means for restoring said stop to non-operative position upon the retractive movement of said transfer wedge.

4. A type casting and composing machine responsive to type and space signals and combinations thereof and embodying a matrix case holding a plurality of rows of matrices, matrix case positioning mechanism, mold dimensioning mechanism including justification wedges, transfer wedges and a normal wedge, the latter being positioned by the said matrix case positioning mechanism, whereby the setwise size of the characters cast by the mold is normally determined by the row of the matrix case in which its matrix is located, and in combination therewith means, responsive to a combination signal for characters in the extreme or last row of the matrix case, for abnormally dimensioning the mold to produce characters of greater setwise size than normal for the normal wedge position for said last row, the normal operation of the machine being undisturbed for type or space signals occurring uncombined.

5. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, a combination of parts to control the sizing mechanism, which controls the opening of the type mold, so that spaces or characters 12 points and 16 points setsize may be automatically cast in the same line with type of varying widths.

6. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, an improved space transfer wedge operating rod with a front lug to strike against a latch and to stop the space transfer wedge at a position in advance of its permanent stop.

7. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, an improved the results described, it' being my intention not to defined by the ap space transfer wedge operating rod with a rear lug for raising and locking a latch out of position ready for the next stroke of space transfer wedge operating rod.

8. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, a latch for locking space transfer wedge operating rod, which latch is released into operating position by the extreme left hand travel of the front matrix jaw stop rack.

9. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, a latch for locking space transfer wedge operating rod, which latch is released into operating position by the extreme left hand travel of the front matrix jaw stop rack, and a means of moving the latch forward or backward to serve as a stop for space transfer wedge operating rod at the desired point.

10. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, a latch for.

locking space transfer wedge operating rod, which latch is released into operating position by the extreme left hand travel of the front matrix jaw stop rack, and a means of moving the latch forward or backward to serve as a stop for space transfer wedge operating rod at the desired point, and a micrometer adjustment controlling the position of space transfer wedge.

11. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, a latch for locking space transfer wedge operating rod, which latch is released into operating position by the extreme left hand travel of the front matrix jaw stop rack, and. a means of moving the latch forward or backward to serve as a stop for space transfer wedge operating rod at the desired point, and a micrometer adjustment controlling the position of space transfer wedge, and a means of locking said micrometer adjustment disc in place, said means comprising a spring arranged to press against the knurled or notched outer circumference of the disc.

12. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, a sliding block operated by and prior to extreme left hand travel of matrix jaw stop rack for the purpose of releasing a latch, in time to stop the left hand travel of space transfer wedge operating rod, determining the proper position for space transfer wedge when casting 12 and 16 point set-size spaces or characters.

13. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, a sliding block operated by and prior to extreme left hand travel of matrix jaw stop rack for the purpose of releasing a latch, in time to stop the left hand travel of space transfer wedge operating rod, determining the proper position for space transfer Wedge when casting 12 and 16 point set-size spaces or characters, and a support and bumper spring for said block.

14. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, a means of producing 8, 12 and 16 point set-size spaces from one matrix position.

15. In a type casting machine automatically controlled by a perforated ribbon, a means of producing (8 and 12) or (8 and 16) point spaces and characters in the same line with other type of uneven or even widths.

GORDON W. CURTISS. 

